Body exerciser



T. S. SWARTS BODY EXERCISER' June 15, 1965 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July '16, 1962 r Q r U m T 1N KEN 3 9R.

BY 55,3 @ge n7? r. s. SWARTS BODY EXERC ISER June 15, 1965 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16, 1962 Theodore S. SWa-r-hs IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,189,344 BODY EXERCISER Theodore S. Swarts, 1017 L St., Springfield, Greg. Filed July 16, 1962, Ser. No. 209,857 Claims. (Cl. 272-58) This invention relates to body exercisers, and has for its principal objective the provision of an exerciser which is adjustable to diverse positions to effect the exercising and toning of all of the more important muscles of the body.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a body exerciser which is capable of being folded to a compact arrangement for, easy portability and convenient storage.

A further important object of the present invention is the provision of a body exerciser which is of simplified construction for economical manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a body exerciser embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the exerciser shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating in dash lines the exercising position of a body corresponding to one position of adjustment of the exerciser;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

l FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the exerciser arranged in a second position of adjustment and showing in dash lines the corresponding position of a body;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, but relating to the position of adjustment shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation showing the exerciser in folded condition for transport or storage.

The exerciser includes a forward frame assembly comprising the side rails 10, the forward rail 12 and the upwardly converging pairs of side supports 14 which rotatably mount the opposite ends of the S-shaped exerciser rod 16. Wheels 18 may be mounted on the underside of the side rails to support the exerciser for mobility.

The exerciser also includes a rearward base which comprises the base plate 20 and the attached side rails 22. The forward end of the base is pivotally secured to the rearward end of the frame assembly by means of the hinges 24. A brace 26 is mounted pivotally at its rearward end on each of the side rails of the base, and extends forwardly through a slot 28 provided in each of the rearward ones of the pairs of upstanding supports 14.

Each brace is provided with, a pair of notches 30 and 32 arranged for releasable engagement with the pin 34 which extends through the slot 28, for purposes described more fully hereinafter.

The exerciser also includes a body support which comprises a seat formed of the seat plate 36 and the side rails 38 secured thereto. The seat plate preferably is padded by such means as the layer of sponge rubber 4-1). A back rest formed of the back rest plate 42 and the side rails 44, is pivotally secured to the seat by means of the hinges 46. The back rest also preferably is padded by such means as the layer of sponge rubber 48, and this layer is preferably contoured to provide a thickened section 48' in the area of the spine base.

Means is provided for mounting the seat removably and adjustably on the frame assembly. In the embodiment illustrated, upstanding side plates 50 are secured to the frame assembly and these are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced registering pairs of notches 52 adapted to removably receive the laterally extending pins 54 mounted on the side rails 38 of the seat adjacent the forward end thereof. In this manner the position of the seat may be adjusted toward or away from the exerciser rod 16, to accommodate use of the apparatus by persons of varying height.

The back rest is supported upon the base by means of the laterally spaced wheels 56 which are secured one to each of the side rails 44 of the back rest. The wheels rest upon a slide plate 58 which is supported slidably upon the base plate 20 and is urged resiliently toward a forwardmost position by the elongated springs 60 which interconnect the slide plate and the base side rails 22. The rearwardmost position of the slide plate is determined by the abutment block 62 which projects upwardly from the base plate at the rearward end of the latter.

A laterally extending bar 64 projects downward from the under side of the back rest plate 42 for cooperative engagement with a pair of laterally positioned abutment blocks 66 which project upwardly from the slide plate 58 adjacent the lateral sides of the latter, asexplained more fully hereinafter.

Further details of construction will be identified in connection with the following description of the operation of the apparatus. With the apparatus adjusted to the position illustrated in FIG. 2, a person sits upon the seat with his back and head resting upon the back rest. It is understood that the seat will have first been adjusted longitudinally by seating the pins 54 in the appropriate one of the spaced pairs of notches 52, so that his feet may engage the opposed loops of the exerciser rod 16. In this position of adjustment of the apparatus, both of the notches 30, 32 in the side braces 26 are disposed rearwardly of the cooperating pins 34, since no interconnection between the forward frame assembly and the rearward base assembly need be provided.

With the body positioned as illustrated in FIG. 2, the person may exercise his legs by rotating the exerciser rod 16 in bicycle pedaling fashion. During this exercise the person may also rock back and forth, lowering and elevating the hinge connection 46 between the seat and back rest. This exercises the legs and stomach muscles and simultaneously massages the back in the area of the spine base, by virtue of the relative movement between the back and the thickened portion 48 of the back rest padding.

This exercise preferably is conducted without shoes,

. and hence as the bicycle pedaling continues the bottoms of the feet are massaged, throughout their length alternately along the sides of the foot when the foot is contained within the concave side of the loop of the exerciser rod, and along the center line portion of the foot When the latter engages the convex outer side of the loop, For example, if the exercise is begun with both feet engaging the exerciser rod adjacent the toes, a few revolutions of the rod in the appropriate direction causes the feet to move forwardly over the rod until the heels are engaging the rod. The direction of rotation of the rod then is reversed so that the contact between the feet and rod progres ses to the toes.

During the foregoing exercise it will be noted that the downwardly projecting bar 64 on the back rest remains out of abutment with the upwardly projecting abutment blocks 66 on the slide plate 58, and that the latter remains in its forwardmost position by contraction of the appropriate movement of said lower foot, the opposite loop is drawn back and forth along the underside of the leg, between the knee and heel, providing effective massaging of the leg. The exercise may be alternated with each leg, as will be understood.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the apparatus is adjusted to the position in which the exerciser rod 16 may be grasped in the hands for exercising the arms and chest muscles. This position of adjustment is achieved as follows: The seat is moved rearward to position the pins 54 in the rearwardmost pair of notches 52. Each of these notches preferably are shaped in the form of a three leaf clover, as illustrated.

The three leaf clover shape of the rearwardmost pair of notches 52 serve to retain the pins against inadvertent detachment. Normally, the pins are retained in the lowermost notch, as illustrated in FIG. 4-. However, during counterclockwise rotation of the frame assembly to the position of FIG. 4 the pins may ride into the forwardly directed notch which thus prevents further movement of the pin out through the open end of the notch. Similarly, during clockwise rotation of the frame assembly the pin may move into the rearward notch where it is similarly held against movement out through the open end of the notch. Having adjusted the seat to the rearward notches 52, the person sits upon the seat, reaches forward and grasps the exerciser rod in the hands, and pulls the exerciser rod toward him. The frame assembly thereupon pivots counterclockwise about the hinge connection 24 with the base, the braces 26 sliding freely through the slots 28 and the notches 32 sliding freely over the pins 34.

As the frame assembly is rotated counterclockwise, the seat is moved rearward by virtue of the connecting pins 54. Since the hinge connection to between the seat and back rest is at its lowermost position relative to the base plate 20, the transverse bar 64 engages the upwardly projecting abutment blocks 66 on the sliding plate 58, and hence the latter is moved rearward against the tension of the springs 60. The resistive force of these springs thus provides for further exercise of the stomach muscles.

In this position of adjustment the legs extend through the opening between the side and front rails of the frame assembly, with the heels of the feet resting upon the fioor. There is no tendency for the body to pivot the back rest about the hinge connection with the seat, and hence the engagement between the abutment bar 64 and blocks 66 is maintained.

When it is desired to rest after exercising in the position illustrated in FIG. 4, the frame assembly is permitted to rotate clockwise until the notch 32 in one of the braces engages the corresponding pin 34. The frame assembly thus is prevented from further rotation until that brace is elevated by hand to disengage the pin. The corresponding notch 32' in the opposite brace is positioned slightly forward of the first named notch, so that it will engage with its corresponding pin upon further clockwise rotation of the frame assembly. This safety provision insures against accidental release of the frame assembly which otherwise might fall freely onto the extended legs.

The apparatus may be folded to compact arrangement for transport or storage. Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, the procedure for folding the apparatus is as follows: With the frame assembly rotated clockwise from the position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the position in which the wheels rest upon the floor, the back rest is rotated clockwise about the hinge connection 46 with the seat, until the guide blocks 68 projecting from the side rails 44 of the back rest engage upon the upper surfaces of the notched plates 50. The seat then is rotated clockwise about the mounting pins 54, the guide blocks sliding forwardly to the final position illustrated in FIG. 6. The base assembly then is rotated clockwise about the hinge connection 24 with the frame assembly until the rearward pair of notches 30 engage the pins 34. The base assembly, seat and back rest thus are retained in folded condition for convenient transport or storage of the apparatus.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides apparatus by which to achieve effective exercising and toning of substantially all of the moreimportant muscles of the body, as well as effective massaging of the feet and legs. The apparatus is of simplified construction for economical manufacture, and is capable of being folded to make contact condition for convenient transport and storage.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the details of construction described hereinbefore without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which it may be used, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A body exerciser comprising:

(a) a base,

(b) a frame forwardly of the base,

(c) first pivot means interconnecting the base and frame for relative pivotal movement on an axis substantially transverse of the base,

(d) an exerciser pedal mounted on the frame for rotation on an axis above and substantially parallel to the axis of the first pivot means,

(e) a seat,

(f) a back rest,

(g) second pivot means interconnecting the back rest and the rearward end of the seat for relative pivotal movement on an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the first pivot means, the interconnected seat and back rest forming a body support assembly,

(h) the body support assembly being mounted freely on the base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, and 7 (i) third pivot means interconnecting the seat and the frame for relative pivotal movement on an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the first pivot means.

2. The exerciser of claim 1 including mounting means on the back rest arranged to engage the base and support the back rest for pivotal movement above the base on an axis substantiallyparallel to the axis of the first pivot means.

3. The exerciser of claim 1 including resilient means arranged to engage the body support assembly to urge the latter toward the first pivot means and hence to urge the pedal pivotally away from the base.

4. The exerciser of claim 1 including a plate mounted on the base for movement longitudinally thereof, resilient means interengaging the base and plate and urging the latter toward the first pivot means, and abutment means on the plate and back rest arranged for releasable interengagement to move the body support assembly with the plate.

5. The exerciser of claim 1 wherein the third pivot means comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced sockets on the frame engageable selectively with pivot pin means on the seat for adjusting the body support assembly relative to the pedal.

References Cited by the Examiner UNTTED STATES PATENTS 2,209,034 12/37 Paul 272-73 3,017,180 1/62 Aronsohn 27273 3,056,603 10/62 Levine et a1. 272-73 3,112,108 11/63 Hanke 272-58 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BODY EXERCISER COMPRISING: (A) A BASE, (B) A FRAME FORWARDLY OF THE BASE, (C) FIRST PIVOT MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE BASE AND FRAME FOR RELATIVE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ON AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSE OF THE BASE, (D) AN EXERCISER PEDAL MOUNTED ON THE FRAME FOR ROTATION ON AN AXIS ABOVE AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE FIRST PIVOT MEANS, (E) A SEAT, (F) A BACK REST, (G) SECOND PIVOT MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE BACK REST AND THE REARWARD END OF THE SEAT FOR RELATIVE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ON AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE FIRST PIVOT MEANS, THE INTERCONNECTED SEAT AND BACK REST FORMING A BODY SUPPORT ASSEMBLY, (H) THE BODY SUPPORT ASSEMBLY BEING MOUNTED FREELY ON THE BASE FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, AND (I) THIRD PIVOT MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE SEAT AND THE FRAME FOR RELATIVE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ON AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE FIRST PIVOT MEANS. 